Generator control



July' 29, 1930. R. D. Lowa 1,171,798

GENERATOR CONTROL Filed May 6. 1929 flaldowc 3.9.1@

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Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES REGINALD D. Lowa, or ASHLAND, KENTUCKY GENERATOR CONTROL Application ined may a, i929. serial No. 360,688.

This invention relates to a device whereby the generator of an automobile can be controlled from the dash or instrument board thereby to adapt it quickly for use during either long or short drives.

Heretofore, after a generator has been set to charge at a high rate, it has been the practice, before starting a long drive, to reset the same so as to prevent overcharging and possible injury to the battery. Unless this has been done by an expert using proper tools, a grounded circuit has frequently resulted.

It is an object of the present invention to providesimple and eilicient means whereby one of the brushes can be advanced or set back readily without the use of tools and lwhile the vehicle is in motion.

Another object is to provide a holder for the shiftable brush so insulated as to elimi- 2 0 nate a large amount of generator trouble herein disclosed may be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form ofthe invention has been shown.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the genera.- 35, tor casing, a portion thereof being broken away to show the third brush and a part of its operating means.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the generator casing and some ofthe parts therein. Y

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the third brush and its holder, said section being on the line 3 3, Figure 1. a

Figure 4 is an enlarged section similar to Referringto the figures by characters of f reference, 1 designates one end portion of the housing of generator 2, the same. being provided with a removable plate 3 forming a bearing for one end of the generator shaft Figure 3 but taken axially through the lugs.y

4. Mounted in the'housing is a'ring 5 formed preferably of pressed steel to the inner and outer faces of which are secured layers 6 and `7-of fibre or other suitable insulating material. f

Journaled in the ring 5 is one end 4of a shaft 8 carrying a segmental gear 9 that is locatedfbetween the ring 5 and the end of housing 1. A portion of this shaft 8 extends through a notch or slot 10 in plate 3 and car- 60 ries an enlargement 11 thatv is'substantially cylindrical. The periphery of this enlargement is formed with longitudinal grooves or sei-rations 12 and is constantlyengaged yby a springr finger 13 extendingfrom plate 3 65 'and' exerting a thrust against the enlargement 11. An operating shaft 14 is connectedfto shaft 8 by a universal joint 15 or any other suit-able'means and is adapted toextend to the dash or instrument board Where itcan be i operated'readily by the driver.

The ring 5 and the layers 6 and 7 of insulatingk material areformed With a` short arcuate `slot 16 concentric'with the shaft Slidable l in this slot are studs 17 extending from one 75 side of a slide 18.v Rack teethy 19 are formed along one edge of the slide and mesh constant` rly with the segmental gear 9. i

Slide 18 is located at one side of the .ring

5 While at the othery side of Vsaid ring is posi- S0 tioned a block 20 of insulating material. v As shown particularly in Figure 3 this block is formed with a dove-tail 21." The block isdetachably connected to slide 18 by a screw22 lthat extends through the slide and through the slot 16. This screw has a shoulder 22 which binds against lock 20, the frictional contact thereagainst being such as to hold the screw normally against rotation.

The third brush, which has been indicated at 23, is arranged in a sleeve 24 having a dove-tail groove 25 in'one wall for the reception of the dove-tail 21. The frictional engagement of the parts 21 with the walls of groove 25 will hold these parts against rel 05 ative displacement under normal Working conditions. A spring 26 is provided as ordinarily for holding the third brush pressed firmly against the commutator 27 of the generator. 15Go Importance is attached to the fact that the third brush is so mounted as to be completely insulated from the supporting ring 5. This insulation is etl'ected by the layers 6 and 7 and by the block 20 which serves to hold sleeve 24 properly spaced from the ring 5 as Well as from the studs 17 carried by the slide.

By providing the .resilient finger 13 and the grooved portion 11, gear 9 will be held properly in any position to which it may be rotated. Thus by turning shaft 14 and gear 9, slide 18 will be shifted either to advance or set back the third brush and correspondingly regulate the generator.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a` generator housing, of a ring mounted therein, a shaft journaled inthe ring, t slide upon one side ot' the ring, an insulating block at the other side of the ring and connected to the Slide, a brushcarrying sleeve detachably connected to the block, and-cooperating means on the shaft and slide ifor shifting the slide to advance or set back the brush.

2. The combination with a generator housing, oi' a ring mounted therein, a block of insulating material slidable relative to the ring and engaging one ot' the thicknesses of insulating material, a. brush-carrying sleeve, a tongue and groove connect-ion between the sleeve and block, andmeansfor shifting the block `relativevto the ring to advance or set back the brush holder.

3. Theconibination with a generatorhousing7 of a ring fixedly mounted therein having an arcuate fslot, a slide at one side of the ring,'means thereon movable Within the slot for holding-the slide against displacement relative tothe ring, an insulating block at the other lside of the ring, means extending through the slot for connecting the slide and block, a brush-holding sleeve, a. separable tongue and groove connect-ion between said sleeve and the block, an operating shaft7 resilient means forretarding the rot-ation of the shaft, Aand ageared connection between the shaft andthe' slide.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signature.

REGINALD D. LOWE. 

